USCIS Reinstates Neighborhood Checks for Citizenship Applicants

The Trump administration has reinstated "neighborhood checks" as part of the naturalization process, reviving a vetting practice dormant since 1991 to enhance scrutiny of citizenship applicants. These checks empower U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers to conduct on-the-ground investigations, including interviews with neighbors, coworkers, employers, and business associates, to assess applicants' good moral character, loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, and disposition toward the country's welfare. USCIS Director Joseph B. Edlow emphasized that this move aligns with congressional intent and statutory requirements under the Immigration and Nationality Act, aiming to ensure thorough vetting beyond automated criminal and background checks. Applicants are encouraged to proactively submit testimonial letters to potentially avoid these investigations, but refusal or insufficient evidence may prompt a neighborhood inquiry. This policy shift is part of broader efforts by the administration to tighten immigration controls, including recent changes to student visa durations and diversity visa lottery rules. The reinstatement ends the general waiver for such checks, marking a significant change in how naturalization applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.